Convertible hay and stock rack.



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vJOHN SGHUSTER, or CLAY BANKS, wISooNSIN. I

CONVERTIBLE HAY AND STOCK RACK- hSpecification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 26, 1905.

Application filed May 5, 1905. Serial No. 259.074.

To all whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN SCHUSTER, a citi# gear of a vehicle and as easily separable for removal from the running-gear when required.

With these and other objects in view, which will appear as the nature of the invention isv better understood, the same `consists in certain novel features of construction, as hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which corresponding parts are denoted by like designating characters, is illustrated the preferred form of embodiment of the invention capable of carrying the same into practical operation,

' it being understood that the invention is not y a plan View of the device arranged as a hayrack. Fig. 2 isa transverse section on the line 2 2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a sectional detail illustrating the construction of the end members of the body portion. Fig. 5 isaperspective view of a portion of one of the side members of the body portion. Fig. 6 is a perspective View of a portion of one of the end clamp-bars. y Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the intermediateportion of one of the side members of the body portion. Fig.l 8 is a perspective view of the lower end of one of the side members of the ladder. Fig. 9 is a perspective View, enlarged, of one of the clips used on the intermediate clamp-bars. Fig. 10 is a transverse section of the device arranged as a stock-rack. a portion of one of the vertical members of the end portion employed when the deviceis arranged as a stock-rack. Fig. 12V is a perspectiveJ View of the upper end of one of the Fig. 11 is a perspective view ofv end members employed when the apparatus is employed as a stock-rack.

The improved device comprises two spaced side members 10 11, having centrally-disposed sockets 12 13 attached, respectively, to their inner faces for supporting a transverse tie member 14, the sockets having `Vdepending ears 15 16 to receive the bent ends of a tierod 17. Thus the tie-rod prevents the side members from separating laterally, and the tie member 14 prevents the side members movingtoward each other. Extending transversely beneath the forward ends of the side members 10 1l is a stay-bar 18, and extending in the same manner over the top of the side members is a stay-bar 19, the two bars connected'by spaced tie-bolts 2O 21. Attached to the youter ends of the bar 18 are L-shaped clips 22 for bearing beneath the side members lO 11 and extending for a distance up the outsides of the same, and similar clips 23 are connected to they bar 19 for bearing over the upper portions of the side members. At the rear ends the Side members 10 11 are provided with bars 24 25 and clips 26 27, similar to the forward ends, and with tie-rods 28 29, similar to the tie-rods 20 v21, the whole forming a very rigid and strong box or body which Will firmly Support the superstructure.

One of the end bar-clips, as 23, is illustrated in Fig. 9, and as all the clips of the end bars are precisely alike the one illustration will answer forv all. v Each of the clips for the end bars is provided with an internal wing 49 for passing through the end of the bar members and extending beyond the same for entering cavities in the side members '10 11,

and thus serve eifectually to prevent lateral movement between the bars and side members.

The bottom boards 56 rest upon the end bars 18 and`24 and also upon the bar 14, as indicated. v

The side members 10 11 are provided, respectively, with spaced transverse apertures 30 l31 to receive the lower ends of cross-bars 32 33, the reduced ends of the bars 32 being inserted in the apertures 31 and extending in an upwardly-inclined direction over the side member 10 and bearing upon the same, and the cross-bars 33, similarly arranged relative to the apertures 30 in theA side member l0 and the upper edge of the side member 11. The cross-bars thus pass each other centrally of the body formed by the members 10 11, as

IOO

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shown, and are arranged at suitable intervals and any required number may be employed,

4but O'enerall four )airs will be em )loyed as s .Y l a shown in Fig. 1.

Disposed upon the inner faces of the side members 10 11 near the forward ends are brackets 34 35, upon which other brackets 36 37 upon the foot ends of the ladder member 38 bear and secured thereto, as by clampbolts 39 40, the ladder being further supported by brace-hooks 41 42 from the side members 10 l1. The converging upper ends of the side members of the ladder 38. are coupled by a bracket 43, having apertures 44 to receive the butt or forward end of the binding member, the bracket being extended into a rein-guiding fork 45.

The binding poles commonly employed upon hay-racks will be used in connection with the device; but as these devices are so well known it is not deemed necessary to illustrate the same. Hooks 69 70 are attached to the rear ends of the side members lO 11 to receive the draw-cable by which the rear end of the binder-pole is secured.

The forward pair of the cross-bars 32 33 bear against the inner sides of the lad der niember 3S, and the latter bears against the adjacent side of the tie-bar 19, while the rearmost pair of the cross-bars bear against the inner face of the tie-bar 25.

Disposed between the intermediate pairs of the cross-bars 32 33 are tie-bars 46, having L-shaped clips 47 48 at the ends for bearing over the upper edges of the members 10 1l, the clips having spaced ribs for entering small recesses in the upper edge of the side members. The clips attached to the tie-bars 46 are all alike, and one of them is shown in perspective and inverted in Fig. 9 to illustrate the interior construction of the ribs, (represented at 60,) and in the upper edges of the members 10 1l recesses are formed to receive these ribs, one of the recesses being shown at 50 in Fig. 7, which represents a portion of one of the side members in perspective at the point where one of the recesses is disposed. It will be understood that one of the recesses 50 will be formed in the upper edges of the members 10 11 wherever the clips 47 48 are disposed. The ribs serve to prevent lateral movement to the binder members 46, and thus add materially to the stability of the structure without materially increasing' the weight or expense of manufacture.

Disposed transversely of the extended portions of the cross-bars 32 33 are spaced rack boards or slats 51, each slat having spaced longitudinal slots 52, through which bolts 53 pass, one end of the bolts having transverse heads 54 for extending transversely of the slats and the threaded ends of the bolts for passing through the members 32 33 and pro` vided with nuts 55, bearing beneath the same. The terminals of the heads 54 have dependling lips for bearing over the edges ol` the. slats 51, as shown in Fig. 2, and when the nuts 55 are set up it will be obvious that the slats will be firmly clamped to the cross-bars. The slots 52 will perlnit the slats 5l to be dctached when the nuts are loosened and the heads turned to register with the slots, the bolts thus remainingl in the cross-bars.

By this means a complete hay-rack strueture isprovided which is strong and durable and may be employed for all the purposes for which hay-racks and similar structures are. usually employed.

All the parts being easily separable, the device may be taken apart in a short space of time and stored for future use and as readily reassembled when required.

Each separate part being comparatively small can be easily handled by one person and will not require the employment of hoisting means or power of any kind to remove or attach the rack.

End members SO are inserted, respectively, between the end bars 13 1S) and the end bars 24 25, with transverse cleats 5S), the ends of the cleats extended for entering recesses in the end bars, as shown in Fig. 4, which represents a transverse section ol one of the end members and the adjacent end bars.

By detaching the ladder member 33 tie-bars 46 and cross-bars 32 33, together with the spaced slats 51, connected thereto, the body portion of the device is left free of any superstructure whatever and is then in the form of an ordinary wagon-box and can be employed as such.

The stock-rack portion of the device comprises a plurality of vertical standards 7l, each having a clip 72 attached at one end and terminating in longitudinally-extended hooks for insertion from the outside. through the apertures 30 31 in the side members 1i) 11, as shown in Fig. 10, the standards each having a catch-rod 74 therethrough and each formed with a terminal hook for bearing' over the. upper edges of the side members 10 11 and entering` cavities 61 therein, one of the cavities being shown in Fig. 7. l`he standards are provided with hook-bolts 78 to support side slats 6.2 at spaced intervals and in horizontal position. The standards that come at the ends of the side members have open slots in their upper ends to receive tic-rods, one of which is shown at 63 and provided with wingnuts 64 65, bearing against the outer faces of the standards, and thus prevents the spreading of the standards under the strains to which they are liable to be subjected.

End closures are provided to be disposed between the side rack formed by the standards 71 and spaced slats 62, one of which is shown in Fig. 10, and consists of standards 66 67, connected at the upper converging ends by a metal strap 63, the ends of the strap projecting laterally and slotted, as at 81, to bear IOO over the tie-rod 63, while the lower endsof the standards 66 67 are provided with clips 76 77, bolted to the end bars 19 and 25'. Spaced slats 69 are bolted to the standards 66 67 and extend to the sider slats 62. The end closures are precisely'alike and connected in the same manner, and the illustration and description of one only are deemed suiicient.

The stock-rack members are readily detachable and can be easily handled by one person, as will be obvious.

The whole device is simple in construction, can be inexpensively manufactured, and is strong and durable when assembled, while at the saine time readily separable ,when required. p

By omitting the side slats 62 from the standards 7l and removing the end closures of the stock-rack portion the device may be employedas a wood-rack or for like purposes.

The side members of the ladder 38 are provided with spaced apertures 82 to provide means for attaching the end slats 69 thereto instead of employing the members 67, if required.

Having thus described the invention, .what is claimed is- 1. In a device of the class described, a body having spaced side walls provided with transverse recesses in the upper side and transverse apertures near the lower sides, crossbars reversely inclined and respectively engaging said apertures and extending in opposite directions over said side walls, tie members disposed between each pair of said crossbars, and clips connected to said tie members and bearing over said side walls and provided with lateral ribs for engaging the recesses in the same.

2. In a device of the class described, a body having spaced side walls provided with transverse apertures, cross-bars arranged in pairsy gaging said apertures and extending in opposite directions over said side walls, spaced slats extending transversely of said crossbars, means for detachably coupling said slats to said cross-bars, tie members disposed between each pair of lsaid cross-bars, and clips connected to said tie members and bearing over said side walls.

3. In a device of the class described, a body having spaced side walls provided with transverse apertures, cross-bars arranged in pairs and reversely inclined and respectively engaging said apertures and extending in opposite directions over said side walls, spaced slats extending transversely of said cross-bars and provided with spaced longitudinal slots, clamp-bolts operating through said cross-bars and havinglaterally-extending heads for passing through said slots and extending transversely of the slats, tie members disposed between each pair of said cross-bars, and coupling means between said tie members and side walls.

4. In a `device of the class described, a body having spaced side walls and provided with transverse apertures and with inwardly-extending brackets at the forward end,crossbars reversely inclined and respectively engaging said apertures and extending in opposite directions over said side walls, tie members disposed between each pair ot said cross-bars, coupling means between said' tie members and 'side walls, a laddermember bearing upon said of said cross-bars, coupling means between said tie member and side walls, a ladder member formed with upwardly-converging sides connected at the upper end by a frame provided with transverse apertures, and means for detachably supporting said ladder from said body.

6. In a device of the class described, a body having spaced side members, transverse tiebars bearing upon the opposite edges of said side members at the ends, tie-bolts connecting each opposite pair of saidtie-bars, and, clips attached to said tie-bars and bearing over the adjacent portions of the said side meinbers.

7. In a device of the class described,.a body having spaced side members, sockets connected to said side members and provided with depending perforated ears, a tie-rod connecting said ears, a tie-bar bearing within said sockets, transverse tie-bars bearing upon the opposite. edges of said side members at the ends, tie-bolts connecting each opposite pair of said tie-bars, and clips attached to said tiebars and bearing over the adjacent portions of the said side members.

8. In a device of the class described, a body having spaced side members, transverse tiebars bearing upon the opposite edges of said side members at the ends, tie-bolts connecting each opposite pair of said tie-bars, clips lattached to said tie-bars and bearing over the adjacent portions of said side members, and

end members disposed between said spaced sides at the ends and provided with transverse cleats having the ends projecting for engaging recesses in said tie members. t

9. In a device ofthe class described,a body having spaced side members provided with spaced transverse apertures, transverse tiebars bearing upon the opposite edges of said side members at the ends, tiebolts connecting each opposite pair of said tie-bars, clips IOO attached to Said tie-bars sind bearingover said In testimony that I eluim the foregoing :is side members, cross-bars reversely inclined my own I hzwe hereto :Liiixed m'vsiggnntme in IO and respectively engaging seid apertures und the presence of two witnesses.

extending in opposite directions ovei` said side HN HUSTFIL 5 members, tie members disposed between each JO bb l pali' of Sald cross-bars, and coupling means Htnessesz between said tie members and said side mem- M. C. PARKER,

bers. E. J. PARKER. 

